Alex Argyros — Vice-Chair

Alex Argyros received his B.A. from Columbia College and his M.A. and Ph.d. from Cornell University. He has taught literature and philosophy at Mary Baldwin College, Lindenwood College, Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Dallas, where he is a full professor of literary studies. A little more than a year ago, Alex's wife, Gretchen, received an offer to work for a law firm in Austin. Alex and Gretchen decided to fulfill a long-standing dream and move to this beautiful, lively, and quirky city. Although Alex no longer teaches at UT-D, he continues to work with graduate students. The move to Austin has been a huge success, in large part because of the supportive and stimulating environment his daughter, Persephone, has found at The Girls' School of Austin. Alex is deeply committed to the future of this unique institution and feels honored to serve the GSA by sitting on its Board of Trustees.

Amber Bennett — Treasurer

Amber is a Director at Dell, overseeing financial planning and analysis for the Americas Commercial and Public Business Group. She is responsible for financial planning and analysis supporting Americas Sales including business planning, investment analysis, strategic planning, pricing oversight, and business process controls. Amber joined Dell in 1998 and her positions there have included Director of Enterprise Product Group, Desktop Product Group, and Transactional Product Group Finance organizations. Before joining Dell, she spent 13 years at IBM in a variety of roles including Manager of Latin America Planning & Special Pricing, Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis and Business Controls for PC Company Mfg in Austin, and other financial planning and accounting positions.

Amber holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas, Austin. She brings to the Girls' School Board a strong business and financial background and works closely with the Head of School and the school accountant on financial issues.

Ray Blue

Originally from North Carolina, Ray moved to Austin in December of 2000 and immediately decided he was home. Currently serving as Senior Development Director at Dell Children's Medical Center Foundation, Ray has over fifteen years of front-line experience in fundraising, strategic planning, and volunteer management. Before joining Dell Children's Foundation, Ray served as vice president of development at United Way Capital Area. He holds a BS in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Masters in Divinity from Emory University. Away from the office, you will either find him working in the yard with his wife Sally and daughter Ruby, picking the guitar, collecting records, or running.

Jim Boeckman — Secretary

Jim Boeckman's daughters Taylor and Solana are in the seventh and sixth at the GSA. His wife Nancy is a photographer. He has over twenty years of experience as an international business lawyer. He currently maintains his own solo practice in Austin. Previously he practiced at major law firms, and as in-house counsel at high-tech companies, in Austin, Dallas and Australia. Jim received his law degree with high honors from The University of Texas School of Law in 1986. He graduated summa cum laude from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, with a B.A. in accounting in 1983. Jim grew up in Springfield, Missouri, but came to Austin as soon as he could, inspired by his grandmother's passion for all things Texan, including the Longhorns, the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers (his grandparents both were native Texans and graduated from UT). He joined the GSA Board in May 2008.

Jason Boulette

Jason Boulette is a labor, employment, and corporate immigration attorney, and his wife Megan is a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Texas. Jason received his law degree with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1997 and bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Virginia in 1994. Jason grew up in Houston, Texas, but has called Austin home since 1994. (His wife Megan is one of those hard-to-find Austin natives.) Jason and his firm are strong supporters of the arts community in Austin, working closely with Ballet Austin, the Austin Lyric Opera, the Long Center, and the Austin Theater Alliance.

Bronson Dorsey

Bronson Dorsey is a facilities executive with over 30 years experience managing facilities and related construction projects for Fortune 50 corporations, the healthcare industry, and higher education institutions. From 2005-2009, Bronson was Global Facilities Development Manager for Dell, Inc, and previously, he was the Associate Vice-President, Facilities & Operations, for Austin Community College. Bronson attended Oklahoma State University's Architecture program from 1963-1966, and received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974. Bronson has been married for 35 years, and has two sons, ages 28 and 19. Bronson has served on the Board of Directors for the Green Acres School, on the Program Committee for Leadership Austin, and as Vice Chairman for the Austin Arts Commission.

Carolyn Miller — Chair

Carolyn Miller is a native of Chattanooga, TN. After her 1964 graduation from the University of Tennessee she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked on the Barry Goldwater Presidential campaign. Following that she was on the staff of Representative Howard H. Callaway and later on the staff of Senator Howard Baker. After starting her family she then moved into the field of education. She has two daughters, one a graduate of Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA and the other a graduate of Garrison Forest School, Baltimore, MD. Her hobbies include golf, cooking, walking, traveling and volunteer community outreach.

Carolyn was Vice-President of The Education Group until December, 2007. As the administrative placement coordinator, Carolyn handled search activities for The Education Group. Carolyn's background includes work with Independent Educational Services (IES) where, from 1997 through the summer of 2002, she served as Executive Vice-President. A graduate of Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN, Carolyn received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her master's degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. With her strong people skills and administrative talents, she has devoted her career energies to enriching the school experience for both students and faculty. As Planning Coordinator at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Bethesda, MD, Carolyn was instrumental in its start up activities. Following St. Andrew's she was appointed Director of Activities and Facilities at National Cathedral School in Washington, DC. In 1984, she joined St. Andrew's-Sewanee School in Sewanee, Tennessee as Director of Admissions. When Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, embarked on its plan for coeducation in 1990, Carolyn was called upon to coordinate the transition of girls into the school, where she then served for 7 years as Assistant Head for Student Life.

Suzanne Quinn

A native Texan, Suzanne Quinn moved to Austin in 1992 for graduate school and never left. The same could be said for her first visit to the GSA campus, when she found the perfect home for her daughter Lilly, a first grader. She has found many excuses to spend time on campus, from serving on the gala committee, participating in campus cleanups, making food for every occasion and even substitute teaching when needed!

Suzanne's career has focused on start-up business ventures and non profit management, from ownership of live music venues in Austin and San Antonio, to heading the marketing and sponsorship program for the SXSW Film Festival & Conference, and launching Austin Studios, a 20-acre film production facility at the old Austin airport. Next she served as Executive Director of Austin Music Foundation, and currently serves on the AMF board. Suzanne received a B.A. in Spanish from Davidson College and an MBA and M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Melissa Schenker

Melissa Schenker is the founder of Work/Life, a consulting practice that focuses on creating satisfying work situations for individuals, helping businesses overcome barriers to growth, and facilitating group problem solving and strategic planning. Melissa started Work/Life in 1996. Previously, she worked as an internal management consultant for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, as an management consultant for Deloitte & Touche, and in a variety of capacities in city government in Austin and NYC. Melissa holds an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. Melissa has served on several nonprofit boards and as President of Family Connections, an Austin-based organization whose mission is to support the development of young children through working with the adults in their lives.

Lisa Schmitt — Head of School

In addition to administrative positions as an academic dean, Ms. Schmitt has taught math and physics for over 17 years. Prior to GSA, she was Dean of Curriculum at the Emma Willard School, a private girls' school in New York. Ms. Schmitt has a strong interest in interdisciplinary math and science education and in the use of technology to advance teaching and learning. She has published in Science Teacher and has presented at numerous national and international conferences on the subject of interdisciplinary math and science education. Ms. Schmitt earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and her Masters of Arts in Teaching in science education from Boston University. She served in the U.S. Air Force as a research physicist specializing in space physics. She has received numerous awards for her research and teaching, including the Rubendahl Faculty Fellowship and a Tandy Technology award for integrating technology into interdisciplinary algebra-physics classes at Northfield Mount Hermon. While at Emma Willard, she developed a partnership project with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to encourage students to pursue math and science. She has taught in the Expanding Your Horizons program for middle-school girls and served on the board of the Rubin Community Fund in Troy, New York.